IPAR S.A.R. was born from a real experience. An extreme situation at sea that marked a turning point for us.
During a big wave competition, Xabi López suffered a serious accident. A blow to the head left him unconscious in the water and had to be rescued with the help of a jet ski. It was not the first emergency experienced at sea, but it was the definitive turning point.
That day, Marcos González and Jaime Rochas were part of the competition’s rescue team, and witnessed how the power of the ocean was reaching extreme levels. Within seconds, two accidents happened at the same time. Their friend Xabi was unconscious in the water, and another team member nearly drowned against the cliff.
That experience left a clear question:
Are we truly prepared to respond effectively to an emergency in the water?
In the world of surfing, even at the highest level, we saw the same pattern repeated: exceptional athletes facing extreme conditions without a solid backup plan, without established protocols, and without specific training to act in a critical situation. Beyond talent or individual experience, there was a lack of structure, coordination, and methodology.
Xabi López after the accident.
At a national level, we identified a clear gap: there was no shared consensus or specialized technical training focused on effective intervention in complex aquatic environments, especially in adverse sea conditions.
From that need arises the synergy between Xabi, Jaime, Marcos and Jon: the union of the big wave surfing world and water lifeguarding.
We began developing our own techniques, procedures, and protocols, adapted to real high-demand scenarios: jet ski rescues, interventions in powerful surf zones, extraction of unconscious victims, and coordination in extreme conditions. Over time, we understood that all this knowledge was not only applicable to big wave surfing, but also had great potential for professional maritime response teams: firefighters, water rescue units, and any service dedicated to safety at sea.
Looking at international benchmarks, jet ski rescue in extreme conditions has its origins in places like Hawaii and Australia, where surfers themselves began implementing these techniques, gradually integrating them into beach surveillance and lifeguard services. This model of natural evolution, from the athlete’s real need to the professionalization of rescue, is one of our main sources of inspiration.
IPAR S.A.R. was created precisely to take that step in our environment:
To transform experience, need, and technical knowledge into a solid structure for training, prevention, and intervention.